*Laconic: ‘using very few words’ (OED). Laconia was the homeland of the Spartans in Ancient Greece, who were famous for the brevity of their communications. The Dictionary of Word Origins gives a great example of their laconic sensibility in a reply to Philip of Macedon, who boasted: ‘If I enter Laconia, I will level Lacedaemon to the ground.’ The Spartans’ reply was ‘If ‘.

    *Ghetto: ‘a part of a city, especially a slum area, occupied by a minority group’ (OED). Ghetto originated in Venice. Ghetto is a part of the city where the Jewish population was forced to live.

   *Shanghaied: ’1. force to join a ship’s crew by underhand means. 2. coerce or trick into a place or action’ (OED). Shanghaied originates in the shortage of crews in the 19th century for ships (including those bound for China) on the west coast of the USA. During the latter half of the 19th century many able bodied men sought their fortune in the gold fields of California, making it necessary for boarding masters to Shanghai those who remained.

    *Coventry: ‘refuse to associate with or speak to someone’ (OED). Being ‘sent to Coventry‘ is an expression believed to originate in the 17th century during the English Civil War when Coventry had a prison for Royalist troops.

    *Doolally: ‘temporarily insane’ (OED). This term is derived from the British Army transit camp of Deolali, which was famous for driving troops to madness from boredom.

    *Jeans/Denim/Dungarees: ‘Denim: hard-wearing cotton twill fabric, typically blue’ (OED). The cloth that jeans are made from originated in Nîmes (de Nîmes means ‘from Nîmes’) and Dongari Killa in Mumbai. The blue colouring of denim was referred to as bleu de Gênes - that is, it came from Genoa.

    *Stockholm syndrome: ‘The syndrome is named after the Norrmalmstorg robbery of Kreditbanken in Stockholm, in which the bank robbers held bank employees hostage. The victims became emotionally attached to their captors, and even defended them after they were freed from their six-day ordeal’ (see Wikipedia).

    *Solecism: ‘grammatical mistake’ (OED). The citizens of the ancient city of Soli spoke differently from the Athenians of the day. The more influential Athenians viewed ‘different’ as ‘ungrammatical’, so the term solecism came into being to describe such ‘mistakes’.

    *Neanderthal: ‘an extinct human that was widely distributed in ice age Europe between c.120,000-35,000 years ago’ (OED). The close relative of humans (Homo sapiens) was discovered in Neandertal (then Neanderthal) in Germany, near Düsseldorf.

Museo Guggenheim, Spain




Some critics might argue that Frank Gehry’s Museo Guggenheim in the northern Spanish city of Bilbao, opened in 1997, looks as though it’s been taken to by a can-opener, but this is one of the most influential and striking buildings in modern architecture. With its ribbonlike sheets of titanium and its collection of interconnecting blocks, the museum gives a nod to Bilbao’s industrialism but also to the saucerlike curves of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Solomon R Guggenheim Museum in New York. Oh yeah…nearly forgot. There’s art inside, too.

Potala Palace, Tibet




Perched high above the holy city of Lhasa is the former seat of the Tibetan government and the winter residence of the Dalai Lama. More notable now for its imposing presence than its residents, this huge construction is 13 storeys high, contains thousands of rooms, and is styled like a traditional Buddhist gompa (temple), if significantly more elaborate. More than 7000 workers were said to have been involved in its construction during the 7th century AD. Potala Palace is now a state museum of China, and has been given a place on the Unesco World Heritage list.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt




Between the ancient pyramids and the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt now has the best of old and new. Like a giant discus landed at an angle or an enormous light switch, Alexandria’s oceanfront library is arguably the first great design of the new millennium. Completed in 2002, it’s inspired by the original Alexandrina library, founded in the 3rd century BC and acclaimed as the greatest of all classical institutions. The building’s sloped design represents a second sun rising beside the Mediterranean. The vast rotunda space can hold eight million books.

Sagrada Família, Spain




Surely the most extraordinary church on the planet, from the mind of one of history’s most eccentric designers: Antoni Gaudí. With its tapering towers like the straightened arms of an octopus, construction of Sagrada Família began in 1882, though Gaudí’s vision was so complex that the church is still unfinished. It will ultimately feature three façades and 18 towers, the tallest of them (170m) representing Jesus Christ. Plans are to have the Barcelona icon completed in 2026, the 100th anniversary of Gaudí’s death, although it will almost be a shame now to see it finished.

Taj Mahal, India



Is this the world’s most famous building? And its most romantic (ignoring the sprawling, industrial city around it, and the hordes of rickshaw-wallahs and touts)? Described by Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore as ‘a teardrop on the face of eternity’, the Taj Mahal in Agra was built by Emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial for his second wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died giving birth to their 14th child in 1631. It’s an extravagant, whitemarble monument to love, which may explain all the young, starry-eyed couples wandering around it. If you’re heading to the Taj, read our 5 ways to see it as well as fantastic side trips in the area.

Imam Mosque, Iran




Headlining beside one of the world’s largest squares, Esfahan’s Imam Mosque is a tiled wonder. Completely covered, inside and out, with pale blue and yellow ceramic tiles (which are an Esfahan trademark), it’s a stunning 17th-century mosque, with its tiles seeming to change colour depending on the light conditions. The main dome is 54m high and intricately patterned in a stylised floral mosaic, while the magnificent 30m-high portal is a supreme example of architectural styles from the Safavid period (1502–1772). The mosque sits askew to the square, at about 45 degrees, so that it faces Mecca.

Winter Palace, Russia




Best known as the outer casing for the remarkable State Hermitage Museum, this pistachio-coloured gem on the banks of the Neva River in St Petersburg was designed by Francesco Bartolomeo Rastrelli as the winter residence of the Russian tsars. Filling an entire block, it bears all the whimsy and ornamentation of the baroque period, and statues line its roof edges like divers about to plunge into the Neva. Little wonder it should be the showpiece of a city built specifically to highlight that Russia could match the architectural beauty of Europe.

Crac des Chevaliers, Syria



Described by TE Lawrence as the ‘finest castle in the world’, this hilltop Crusader fortress might be 800 years old but, like a good botox treatment, stands tight and taut against the ravages of time. It’s the classic blueprint of a medieval castle, its thick outer walls separated from the inner structure by a moat dug out of the rock. Inside, it’s a minitown, complete with a chapel, baths, a great hall and a Gothic loggia. The most visible sign of ageing is the vegetation that grows from its walls; nothing a good shave wouldn’t fix.

Museu Oscar Niemeyer, Brazil




Designed by Oscar Niemeyer, the celebrated architect behind the creation of the Brazilian capital, Brasília, the Museu Oscar Niemeyer in Curitiba will test your view of aesthetics. Like all great buildings – and probably more so – the art museum’s appearance has an element of love-it-or-hate-it, with its main gallery shaped like a reflective glass eye, balancing atop a yellow support, and approached on curving ramps above a pool of water. Once inside the building commonly called the ‘Eye Museum’, you’ll see that every aspect of the museum’s design seems to marry beauty with whimsy.

Aya Sofya, Turkey




Aya Sofya is the great architectural landmark at the heart of Istanbul, with its four minarets poised like moon-bound rockets. Constructed in the 6th century AD as an Orthodox church, it later became a mosque and, since 1935, a museum. The enormous structure was built in just five years, and its musk walls are topped by an imposing dome, 31m wide and 56m high. The dome’s base is ringed by windows, so that from within the structure, the dome seems almost to hover ethereally above the building.

We all love Sardar jokes. But do you know that Sikhs are one of the hardest working, prosperous and diversified communities in the world!
My friend told me about the following incident which I wish to share with you. It has had a deep impact on my thinking.

During the last vacation, a few friends came to Delhi . They rented a taxi for local sight-seeing. The driver was an old Sardar and boys being boys, these pals began cracking Sardarji jokes, just to tease the old man. But to their surprise, the fellow remained unperturbed..

At the end of the sight-seeing, they paid the cab hire charges. The Sardar returned the change, but he gave each one of them one rupee extra and said,”Sons, since morning you have been telling Sardarji jokes. I listened to them all and let me tell you, some of them were in bad taste. Still, I don’t mind coz I know that you are young blood and are yet to see the world. But I have one request. I am giving you one rupee each. Give it to the first Sardar beggar that you come across in this or any other city !!!”

My friend continued, “That one rupee coin is still with me. I couldn’t find a single Sardar begging anywhere.”

MORAL:
The secret behind their universal success is their willingness to do any job with utmost dedication and pride. A Sardar will drive a truck or set up a roadside garage or a dhaba, run a fruit juice stall, take up small time carpentry, … but he will never beg on the streets

Because Sikhs contribute:

* 33% of total income tax
* 67% of total charities
* 45% of Indian Army

* 59,000++ Gurudwaras serve LANGAR to 5,900,000+ people everyday!

& All this when THEY make only 1.4% of the total INDIAN POPULATION..

 =D> =D> =D> =D> =D> =D>

1. Great Pyramid of Khufu, Giza, Egypt



Bigger might not be better, but clearly nobody told Pharaoh Khufu that before he built his pyramid in 2570 BC. More than 2 million limestone blocks, each weighing upwards of 2 tonnes, were hefted to create a beast of a building some 146.5m high – it remained the world’s tallest structure for 4000 years. But never mind the size: feel the quality. Not only was the design supremely accurate – each 230m-long side varies by mere centimetres – the subtleties of its construction are exceptional: the internal shafts point towards important constellations, for example, and it aligns with true north. Oh, and it looks phenomenal.

The pyramids are open daily; two are usually open to the public. Arrive before 8am for the best chance of tickets.
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2. Aya Sofya, Istanbul, Turkey


No, it doesn’t honour some saintly Sophia – this astonishing construction was named for divine wisdom (sophos in Greek). The name is apt, because the incredible beauty of this ancient building, created by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian in AD 537, was possible only thanks to the cunning of the innovative architects who perched its vast, seemingly floating 30m dome on pendentives and hidden pillars. Converted to a mosque after the Ottoman invasion of 1453, Aya Sofya is now a secular monument – but when shafts of sunlight strike the gold mosaics of its cavernous interior, you’ll be forgiven for experiencing a religious moment.

The Aya Sofya is closed on Mondays; come the rest of the week to fully enjoy the wonder of this historic masterpiece.
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3. Indian Railways



A glance at the numbers gives a sense of the what has been achieved since the first train chugged out of Mumbai on the 33km to Thane in 1853; today, over 63,000km of track carries 18 million passengers daily. But that’s skimming the surface; the real engineering prowess is demonstrated in the small details. For example, in 1874, Major Stanton constructed an 88km section – from initial survey to loco commissioning – in a mere 65 days. Such feats were repeated throughout the country and now you can ride on comfortable broad-gauge tracks or switchback up to Himalayan hill stations on toy trains (small mountain trains).

IndRail passes, enabling prebooking of seats and berths, are valid from half-day to 90-day options in three classes.
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4. Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao, Spain



Is it a ship? A flower? A fish? Frank Gehry’s vision for this glimmering creation was unique. Call it deconstructivism or, as did King Juan Carlos, simply ‘the best building of the 20th century’; either way, it continues to astonish. Its flowing, organic lines required a ground-breaking 3-D computer-aided design program, which enabled 60 tonnes of titanium to form sweeping sheets just ½mm thick and specially strengthened glass to curve smoothly around the limestone carapace. Since it opened in 1997, the museum has hosted a dazzling array of works by the likes of Warhol, Rothko and Koons, but it’s the building itself that has kick-started Bilbao’s renaissance.

Guggenheim Museum Bilbao is open Tuesday to Sunday year-round, and Mondays in July and August.
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5. Great Wall of China:



Genghis Khan reportedly said: ‘The strength of a wall depends on the courage of those who defend it.’ True, but it helps if your wall is really big. The original Great Wall was constructed by the 3rd-century Qin dynasty, who coerced hundreds of thousands of workers into hefting an estimated 180 million cu metres of rocks and mud. The later effort by the Ming dynasty (14th–17th centuries) incorporated 60 million cu metres of stone and bricks. Overall, the various walls spanned almost 2000 years of construction, cost millions of lives and stretched some 6500km. No, you can’t see it from the moon but, yes, it is jaw-droppingly impressive.

The sections nearest Beijing tend to be crowded and busy with hawkers; head to Sīmǎtái or Jīnshānlǐng for a less-touristy experience.
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6. Millau Viaduct, France



Concrete: 206,000 tonnes; steel decking: 36,000 tonnes – oooh, don’t stop, you saucy devil! No, really, it is exciting: Sir Norman Foster’s viaduct is an example of the practical – prosaic, even – that is also delicately beautiful. Challenged to build a bridge to span the Gorges du Tarn in southern France, engineers created a record-busting feat of technology: 2460m long, it incorporates the world’s highest pylons, highest mast and highest road deck. But the reason drivers (and tourists) stop and gawp – and they do – is the sense of lightness and fragility something so huge conveys.

The bridge toll is from €5.02 but admission to the visitor centre, open daily, is free.
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7. Lalibela, Ethiopia



A while back, there was a bit of a fad for carving buildings out of rock – think Egypt’s Abu Simbel, Jordan’s Petra, India’s Ellora. But Lalibela takes some topping, not least because the rock-hewn churches are still very much active. Come at Timkat (Epiphany; 19 January) for bustling pilgrims, chanting, incense swirling and a peek at the tabots (holy books). Scores of thousands of workers – some of them heavenly, according to local legend – laboured from the 12th century to dig Lalibela’s 11 churches vertically from the ground. Rough-edged they’re not, though; their exquisite carvings and decorations make them visual treats.

Lalibela’s churches are open daily. To avoid catching fleas from their carpets, try dusting your socks with flea powder.
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8. Falkirk Wheel, Scotland



Boats: great for floating, not so hot going downhill. As for going up – rubbish. If you’re a boat, and you want to head uphill, say, between Scotland’s Forth and Clyde Canal and the 35m-higher Union Canal, what you need is either a series of locks stretching over 1.5km, or a vast steel contraption that rotates a pair of enormous, water-filled gondolas. Each gondola on the Falkirk Wheel carries boats like you on their up or down journeys. It took 1200 tonnes of steel, more than 15,000 bolts and a really, really big crane to put the wheel together in 2001. Unique.

Hour-long boat trips, including lifts up and down, operate daily.
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9. Yaxchilán, Yucatán, Mexico

Maya sites are fascinating – ball courts, pyramids, carved frescoes – and Yaxchilán is cooler than most, perched dramatically above a jungle-clad loop of the Río Usumacinta. A wealthy city during its heyday (AD 680–800), Yaxchilán has exceptional and intricately carved facades and roof combs, but arguably the most interesting feature isn’t even there anymore: a suspension bridge whose 63m central span was the world’s longest for 700 years. The existence of the bridge, posited in the mid-1990s as a result of archaeological research and computer modelling, is still debated, but the idea certainly adds to the allure of one of the Americas’ most intriguing ancient sites.

Yaxchilán isn’t accessible by road or rail; hire a motorboat for the 45-minute journey from Frontera Corozal.
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10. Burj Khalifa, United Arab Emirates



OK, so this one really is all about the size: the world’s tallest building isn’t huge – it’s simply colossal. In the way Gulf states seem to do things (creating vast artificial islands in the shapes of trees, creating the world’s first seven-star hotel, etc), Burj Khalifa didn’t just sneak past the previous incumbent, it roared ahead. Taiwan’s former champion tower, Taipei 101, is a tiddling 509m, while Burj Khalifa is a whopping 300-plus metres taller. It’s so high the air temperature at the top is a full 6°C lower than at its base.

1. Leh, India

From the town of Leh in the northern Indian region of Ladakh you can depart for a two-day trip (from mid-July to mid-September only) across the ‘roof of the world’, a lovely global precursor to the roof over your heads. Get married at the end of day one and test your bond on day two. This strenuous pass will take your breath away at 5600m. Make each other proud by crossing the perilous swing bridges between canyons. Buddhist monasteries dot the serene landscape: pay a visit for first-hand instruction in kindness and tolerance. From 1–15 September the Ladakh Festival spices up Leh and surrounding villages; plan your trip at www.lehladakhindia.com.
2. Tuscany, Italy

Why not make the wedding just as memorable for your friends as it will be for you? Schedule the event as follows: hire the main villa for you and your mates, and a series of connected cottages nearby for both sets of family. Get everyone to arrive the night before and meet up in the irresistibly convivial atmosphere of the local pizzeria – ideally it’ll be in a hilltop town, accessible only by foot. The next day, after a lazy, sunny morning getting ready, be married in the little fresco-painted chapel on the property. Hold an evening reception on the lawns, surrounded by fireflies and caterers with gallon jars of homemade red plonk. The romantic medieval city of Lucca is a great place to explore the rest of Tuscany; hear bells ringing at the church of San Michele, Duomo of San Martino and Basilica of San Frediano.
3. Manchester, England

Make an instant chemical friend every night in one of Manchester’s myriad dance clubs. You may not even have to talk, but you’ll immediately know you’ve found one of your kind at Poptastic or the Northern Monkey Music Club. Intellectuals can be found at the Best Indie Night in the World… Ever!, while simpler types bust a move at Giggle & Funk. But don’t expect these clubs to stay the same. Tomorrow’s a new day – possibly even a Happy Monday. Manchester After Dark lists all the city’s hottest spots; information about dealers is harder to find.
4. Western Cape, South Africa

Say your vows (and your prayers?) in a shark cage off Gansbaai, 175km southeast of Cape Town. For those who dated at scary movies, this is just a natural progression. Admittedly your celebrant will have to be capable of some depth and your parents might be practising speeches long before the event. But if the cage is as strong as your love, you’ll be fine. Great white sharks are now on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species – although critics maintain that humans are more endangered since shark-cage diving started, as the pelagic predators are encouraged to associate bait with us. April to October is the peak shark season; the working fishing village of Gansbaai is a 2½-hour limo ride from Cape Town.
5. Antarctica

For those who have decided to ignore the cold feet and dedicate themselves to the mating season, what better place to marry than Antarctica? Join your life partner on the good ship Aurora, on your deliciously slow way down to the largest continent on earth (you could propose here too, as it’s the ultimate icebreaker). Ecotourism honeymoon expeditions can include polar adventure activities such as sea-kayaking, scuba diving and camping, and there’s the potential for interaction with whales. Take a tip from the emperor penguins: the best answer to the weather is to go into the most natural of huddles. Life will seem cosy after this trip. Travel in November to see whole penguin colonies engaged in courtship rituals; February to March is when you’ll see the newborn chicks.
6. Nicobar Islands

It’s a rare thing when two ‘morning people’ find each other. What better way to demonstrate your purposeful compatibility than to marry at dawn? Somewhere along a line in the Indian Ocean, the sun creeps first onto hundreds of tiny islands, islets and rocks. Sparrows fart first here, in the idyllic Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India, located in the Indian Ocean. Isolation has preserved lush forest cover and flourishing fauna, and there are people of many faiths, including Hindus, Muslims, Christians and Sikhs. Should make designing a wedding ceremony all the more interesting. The jewel in the crown is Havelock Island; from Port Blair hop on a boat at the Phoenix Bay Jetty and five hours later you’ll be in paradise.
7. Buenos Aires, Argentina

The World Tango Festival, held in venues all over a summery Buenos Aires, is a perfect opportunity to find a new partner who’ll hold you like you want to be held. Workshops are run by the Great Masters of Tango, milongueros. Held in the best dance halls and sports clubs and culminating in the grandest ballroom in the city, the Palais Rouge, the workshops are accompanied by six ‘orchestras’. In broader terms, this dance is also a physical interview for that greater tenet of coupledom: commitment. Can he take the lead and is she capable of following? Has he got big feet? Will he drop her? Test it out. The festival is held in October. Related events include scores of tango dance classes; check session times and book online here.
8. Elora, Canada

Just over an hour from Toronto, this rustic sandstone mill town preserves the pious ways of the old world, when couples huddled together through fierce Canadian blizzards. The local Mennonite community will teach you how to cook and sew. You’ll learn to survive without TV, takeaway, computer games, shoe therapy, haircuts or counsellors (no powerlines means it’s time to talk to people around you). Best of all, now you can eat what you like: try locally produced maple syrup with every meal or organically grown veggies, the choice is yours. Go on a date with a new prospect in a horse-drawn buggy. Book you and your new beau a room at the historic Elora Mill Inn; check out other fun pursuits at www.elora.info.
9. Hustadvika, Norway

Chaotic, salt stained, yet free – this stretch of ocean in a storm is a perfect metaphor for your dark heart. Stare out at the fantastically wild waves and contemplate how you got dumped. Or muse over the notorious history of this coast: ships have been sinking here since the Middle Ages. Then jump into an appropriately Scandinavian car and head down the Atlantic Road towards the western fjords and the fishing village of Kristiansund. Along this winding stretch you’ll cross no fewer than 12 bridges over less troubled water. When you’ve finished brooding head to Hustadvika’s old liquor store and drink to forget. Or take part in healthier pursuits – see www.hustadvika.no for ideas.
10. Aitutaki, Cook Islands

Your return to the blue lagoon of Aitutaki, just an hour’s flight north from the Cook Islands’ Rarotonga, is long overdue. Nominated as the world’s most beautiful island by Lonely Planet’s founder, Tony Wheeler, it’s better looking than your ex too. The truly buff inhabitants won the Cooks’ ‘best young island dancers’ award three years running. They perform every night at alternating beachside restaurants, so learn how to shake it and get on with attracting your next partner. Alternatively, hire a moped for a circuit of the island and feel the breeze in your free-flowing, newly single hair. The Overwater Bungalows is the premier accommodation option; spend the NZ$1235 per night and glare at all the happy honeymooners.


 :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: jaaaao viaaho te kuwaaario dil tutteo  :break:  :laugh: :laugh: :laugh:

1. In Asia, never touch any part of someone else’s body with your foot, which is considered the ‘lowest’ part of the body. If you accidentally do this, apologize by touching your hand to the person’s arm and then touching your own head. Don’t point at objects or people with your feet, don’t prop your feet on chairs or tables while sitting.

2. Also in Asia, refrain from touching people on the head or ruffling their hair. The head is spiritually the ‘highest’ part of the body. Don’t sit on pillows meant as headrests, as it is a variant on this taboo.

3. Shaking hands was introduced to Fiji in the 19th century by way of Tonga, and quickly became the established custom. An affectionate handshake can be very long, and may even last throughout an entire conversation.

4. In Nepal, it’s bad manners to step over someone’s outstretched legs, so avoid doing that, and move your own legs when someone wants to pass. Also do not step over or sit on a monk’s cushions in or near a temple, even if no one is sitting on them.  Always walk around stupas and chortens (Tibetan-style stupas) in a clockwise direction.

5. In Japanese baths, called onsen, always wash first before entering the water. The water is considered fouled if someone does not do this, kind of like the American equivalent of peeing in a pool. Also, use a wash cloth to cover your private bits and pieces. 

6. The people of Italy are emotionally demonstrative, so expect to see lots of cheek kissing among acquaintances, embraces between men who are good friends and lingering handshakes. Italian men may walk arm-in-arm, as may women. Pushing and shoving in busy places is not considered rude, so don’t be offended by it. Try to hold your ground. The Italian body language vocabulary is is quite extensive, but the following six may prove useful when traveling:

Italian Body Language

Six examples of Italian body language with their matching translations

7. Shaking hands across a threshold is considered unlucky in Russia. An interesting feature of this is that some pizza delivery guys refuse to conduct a transaction across a threshold; you either have to go out to the hall or invite them just inside the door.

8. In India it is possible to pay a tremendous compliment with body language alone. When somebody approaches a person with their tongue between their teeth and gathers the air around the person’s head with their hands to draw it into their own personal space, it means they find the person either unbearably beautiful or extraordinarily intelligent.

9. Don’t stick your index finger and middle finger up with the palm of your hand facing towards you in the UK… it’s the equivalent of giving someone the finger. Tip: Don’t order two beers in this fashion in UK bars. Doing it palm facing out is OK (i.e., the peace sign)

10. Moroccan greetings can last up to 10 minutes. Shake with your right hand then touch your hand to your heart, to indicate that you’re taking the meeting to heart. Good friends may tack on up to four air kisses, accompanied by a stream of well wishes: ‘How are you? Everything’s good with you? I hope your parents are well? Baraka (blessings) upon them!’

India

With its colour, culture and chaos, India is one country where you’ll be wanting 20/20 vision. Just as well the country’s eye surgery facilities are top-notch! The Aravind eye-care system, centred in Madurai but with hospitals around India, is a remarkable program originally designed to minimise unnecessary blindness; in addition to foreigners, it has helped over 2.4 million poor Indians to see in the past 30 years. Aravind’s Eye Hospitals treat everything from glaucoma to cataracts and even eye replacement. Patients relax in private suites costing US$20 per day; specialist doctors commandeer the latest technologies and speak faultless English.
Bangkok, Thailand

Back in 1984, British pop singer Murray Head noted that ‘one night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble’. Oh, but Bangkok makes a hard man so much more than that… Welcome to Thailand, sex-change capital of the world. Whether you want to re-emerge from the operating room as he, she or ‘other’, Bangkok’s highly trained surgeons are world leaders in the art of ‘gender reassignment’. Thailand is also famous for heart surgery, eye surgery and more. State-of-the-art Bumrungrad International Hospital is a major destination for overseas patients.
Beijing, China

Somehow, experiencing acupuncture in its home setting just feels right – especially when you get the balms, oils and smelly unguents of traditional Chinese medicine. Since 1975 Beijing has been home to the International Acupuncture Training Centre, a university for foreign doctors who want to have a stab at it. Prefer to be pricked rather than do the pricking? Book yourself in at Dongzhimen Hospital. The People’s Republic is also pioneering stem-cell treatments, offering patients with the gravest conditions a chance to try new treatments not yet approved at home.
Colombia

North Americans and others head to Colombia for complex treatments performed by crack doctors at bargain rates. Bogotá offers a wide variety of medical treatments and operations, ranging from dentistry and cosmetic surgery to open-heart surgery. Joint surgery is one of Colombia’s specialties: getting a hip replaced or ‘resurfaced’ costs one-fifth of what it does in the US, while the prosthetics used are of high international quality. Many Colombian doctors are foreign-trained.
Nuuk, Greenland

Imagine you’re in Greenland and a polar bear bites your arm off. Don’t just leave it there! Dronning Ingrids Hospital, in the southwestern capital of Nuuk, is the main hospital on this frigid maritime landmass, and is renowned for performing special operations requiring very low temperatures (such as reattaching severed limbs). They don’t need air-conditioning here, and the heating system prevents any contaminated airflow. You’ll quickly feel good as new when recovering on this sparsely populated island: not only is the air is clean and, er, invigorating, but the seafood is excellent.
Tehran, Iran

How does Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad keep up his fierce stare? We’re not implying anything, but plastic surgery in Tehran is big business these days. Iranian plastic surgeons do lifts, chin implants, tummy tucks and almost everything else that’s done in the West, but for less. Nose jobs are especially popular, interestingly enough. For Muslim women in the Islamic Republic, their nose is often one of the few body parts they can display; however, Iranian men also seem to be fond of the procedure.
Cuba

So you’ve arrived on a Communist-run island and the authorities have confiscated your passport and money. Some might say it comes with the territory – or you might be at a Cuban rehab clinic, where it’s often standard procedure. Frequented by ordinary folks and famous figures alike (Argentine soccer star Diego Maradona among them), Cuba’s rehabilitation villas are renowned for their professional service, effectiveness and super-reasonable rates. Rehab here mixes balmy island living with no-nonsense regimes for keeping you stone-cold sober, with the assistance of trained psychologists, doctors, and – of course – Caribbean sea breezes. You can book a private rehab getaway through an operator such as Grupo Cubanacan.
Malaysia

Mix pleasure with procedures in Malaysia, another leading destination for medical travellers. Places like the beach resort town of Penang are popular for breast-enhancement surgery; some package-tour companies even cater to this kind of trip. It’s great that a recuperative beach vacation is included, since doctors warn that long plane journeys after surgery can cause thrombosis. The dynamic capital, Kuala Lumpur is where more complex procedures (such as brain surgery for epilepsy) are performed.

The cool allure of India’s hills drew the British onwards and upwards during the Raj. The hill stations they established are enduring attractions that offer relief from the heat and dust of the plains during summer and even – in the north – offer snowfields and skiing in the winter.

In fact they’re so popular that they risk being loved to death. Shimla, famous as the former summer capital of the Raj and beloved by Bollywood directors for its historic and scenic backdrops, is heavily visited. This means that while there’s a mass of things to do and see, there’s also increasingly chaotic traffic and people-pressure on the landmark Victorian buildings, institutions and infrastructure. So what to do?

‘Shimla’

Well, the notion of reduce, reuse, recycle has been taken on board in Shimla. One of the town’s working strategies is to reuse old for new, and reviving colonial buildings for contemporary purposes is one way to keep historic buildings viable. The massively opulent 1888 Viceregal Lodge (more baronial castle than lodge, actually) now houses the highly regarded Indian Institute of Advanced Studies and there’s public access to its gorgeous grounds. The Gaiety Theatre, one of the hubs of Raj-era social life, has recently been restored and is a hive of dramatic activity where theatre workshops and visiting performers now compete with local dramatic society productions.

‘Institute of Advanced Studies’

Green initiatives are being introduced. The Himalayan Queen – the world heritage-listed toy train that makes a daily zig-zag journey up to and down from Shimla – has invested in solar panels on each coach to reduce fuel consumption. Plastic bags have been (mostly successfully) banned in local shops for some years; a knock-on effect of the ban is that more newspapers are being recycled to make paper bags in replacement. And while littering is still an issue, at least paper disintegrates faster with the monsoon rains (and makes it easier for the town’s resident monkeys to perform their own daily digestive recycling initiatives).

Nostalgia isn’t the prerogative of the British in India. Conversations with older Shimla locals reveal a reluctance to embrace modern building styles and standards. This is balanced by the realisation that 100-year-old buildings designed to be staffed by an army of servants are hard to maintain without them. Mock-Tudor cottages in various stages of decaying grandeur (often with emphasis on the decaying, rather than the grandeur) are dotted all over town.

‘Himalayan Queen’ by mkosut.

Some are in use as heritage hotels that cater to all budgets; some are government guesthouses and private residences. Others are tumbledown ruins, with overgrown gardens of roses and honeysuckle. All are great photo opportunities. A fond childhood memory of many is the daily performance of the police band, in the classic bandstand on the Ridge, up until the late 1960s. The bandstand is now a restaurant, with terrific views across the valley.

Similar scenarios can be found throughout the popular northern hill stations – like Manali and Mussoorie – while less-visited locations such as Kasauli and Chail retain more of a small-town feel. Heading south, hill stations in the Western Ghats – Kodaikanal, Ootacamund (immortalised during the Raj as ‘snooty Ooty’) and Conoor for example – offer a gentler experience. The hills here are just that – hilly rather than mountainous – with manicured tea plantations interrupting the contoured slopes.

‘Western Ghats’

Outdoor pursuits enjoyed by the Raj visitors are still available in the hill stations. Marked walking trails abound for do-it-yourself types. Entrepreneurial, multi-lingual guides offer their services for hiking and wildlife-watching in spectacular landscapes. There is horse-riding, golf and cricket. While history and politics may have well and truly moved on, the attractions of the past are still well and truly present.

ਬੱਸ ਵਿੱਚੋਂ ਉੱਤਰ ਕੇ ਮੈ ਆਪ੍ਣੀ ਜੇਬ 'ਚ ਹੱਥ ਮਾਰਿਆ.....ਇੱਕ-ਦਮ ਮੇਰੇ ਹੌਸ਼ ਉੱਡ ਗਏ..!! ਮੇਰਾ ਪਰਸ ਚੌਰੀ ਹੋ ਚੁਕਿਆ ਸੀ... ਵੇਸੇ ਵੀ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਰ੍ਸ ਹੈ ਹੀ ਕੀ ਸੀ..... ?? ਕੁੱਲ 150 ਰੁੱਪਏ...ਤੇ ਇੱਕ ਖ਼ਤ.. ਜੋ ਮੈ ਆਪਣੀ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿੱਚ ਰਹਿੰਦੀ ਮਾਂ ਲਈ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੀ,."ਮੇਰੀ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਚ੍ਲੀ ਗਈ ਹੈ.. ਸੌ ਮੈਂ ਪੈਸੇ ਨਹੀ ਭੇਜ ਸਕਾਂ ਗਾਂ...", ਪਿੱਛ੍ਲੇ ਤਿੰਨ ਦਿਨਾ ਤੋਂ ਉਹ ਖ਼ੱਤ ਮੇਰੀ ਜੇਬ 'ਚ ਪਿਆ ਸੀ..ਪੌਸਟ ਕਰਨ ਨੂ...ੰ ਮੰਨ ਹੀ ਨਈ ਕਰ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ...150 ਰੁਪਏ ਤਾਂ ਜਾ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਸੀ....ਵੇਸੇ ਵੀ 150 ਰੁਪਏ ਕੌਈ ਬਹੁਤ ਜ਼ਿਆਦਾ ਬੜੀ ਰਕਮ ਤਾਂ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਨੀ....ਪਰ ਜਿਸ ਦੀ ਨੌਕਰੀ ਚੱਲੀ ਗਈ ਹੋਵੇ ਉਸ ਲਈ ਤਾਂ 15੦ ਰੁਪਏ ਵੀ 1500 ਵਾਂਗ ਹੁੰਦੇ ਨੇ,,..... ...ਇਸ ਘਟਨਾ ਨੂੰ ਕਈ ਦਿਨ ਬੀਤ ਗਏ... ਫਿਰ ਅਚਾਨਕ ਮੇਰੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਤੋਂ ਮੇਰੀ ਮਾਂ ਦਾ ਖ਼ੱਤ ਆਇਆ..ਮੈਂ ਖ਼ਤ ਦੇਖ ਕੇ ਇੱਕ-ਦੱਮ ਸਹਿਮ ਗਿਆ... "ਜਰੂਰ ਮਾਂ ਨੇ ਪੈਸੇ ਮੰਗਵਾਏ ਹੋਣ ਗੇ.." ਮੈਂ ਮੰਨ ਹੀ ਮੰਨ ਸੌਚਿਆ...!!...ਪਰ.......ਮੈਂ ਖ਼ਤ ਪ੍ੜ ਕੇ ਹੈਰਾਨ ਹੋ ਗਿਆ..ਮੇਰਾ ਮਾਂ ਨੇ ਖ਼ਤ 'ਚ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੀ .."ਪੁੱਤ, ਤੇਰਾ... ਭੇਜਿਆ ਹੋਇਆ 500 ਰੁਪਏ ਦਾ ਮਨੀਆਡਰ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਮਿਲ ਗਿਅ ਹੈ..ਤੂੰ ਬਹੁਤ ਚੰਗਾ ਪੁੱਤ, ਪੈਸੇ ਭੇਜਣ 'ਚ ਕਦੇ ਵੀ ਲਾਪਰਵਾਹੀ ਨੀ ਕਰਦਾ..!!"" ....ਮੈਂ ਇਸੇ ਗੱਲ ਬਾਰੇ ਸੌਚ-ਸੌਚ ਕੇ ਬਾਰ-ਬਾਰ ਪਰਿਸ਼ਾਨ ਹੋ ਰਿਹਾ ਸੀ, ਕਿ ਆਖਰ ਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਨੀਆਡਰ ਕਿਸਨੇ ਭੇਜਿਆ ਹੋਵੇਗਾ..???.....ਫਿਰ ਕੁੱਝ ਦਿਨਾ ਬਾਅਦ ਮੈਨੂੰ ਇੱਕ ਹੋਰ ਖ਼ੱਤ ਮਿਲਿਆ...ਚੰਦ ਲਾਇਨਾ ਲਿਖਿਆਂ ਹੌਈਆਂ ਸੀ...ਟੇਢੀਆਂ-ਮੇਢੀਆਂ....ਬਹੁਤ ਮੁਸ਼੍ਕਿਲ ਨਾਲ ਪੜ ਸਕਿਆ...ਖ਼ੱਤ 'ਚ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੀ..."ਵੀਰ ਜੀ,150 ਰੁਪਏ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ, ਤੇ 350 ਰੁਪਏ ਮੇਰੀ ਤਰ੍ਫੋ,ਮਿਲਾ ਕਿ ਮੈ ਤੁਹਾਡੀ ਮਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਮਨੀਆਡਰ ਭੇਜ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ...ਤੁਸੀ ਫਿਕਰ ਨਾ ਕਰਿਓ...!!ਮਾਂ ਤਾ ਸਾਰਿਆਂ ਦੀ ਇੱਕੋ ਜਿਹੀ ਹੁੰਦੀ ਹੈ....ਫੇਰ ਤੇਰੀ ਮਾਂ ਕਿਓਂ ਭੁਖੀ ਰਹੇ...???""" .......ਖ਼ੱਤ ਦੇ ਅੰਤ ਵਿੱਚ ਲਿਖਿਆ ਸੀ

"ਤੇਰਾ ਜੇਭ੍ਕਤਰਾ ਭਾਈ"

ਨੌਹਣ ਲੱਗਿਆ ਸਣੇ ਬਨੈਣ ਪਾਣੀ ਚ ਵੜ ਜਾਨਾਂ

ਜਾਂ ਗਲ ਵਿੱਚ ਨਾਲਾ ਪਾਕੇ ਮੈਂ ਗਲੀ ਚ ਖੜ ਜਾਨਾਂ

 ਸੱਪ ਓਏ ਕਹਿ ਛਾਲ ਮਾਰ ਪੇਟੀ ਤੇ ਚੜ ਜਾਨਾਂ

ਇੱਕੋ ਖਬਰ ਖਬਾਰ ਚੋਂ ਕਈ ਵਾਰੀ ਪੜ ਜਾਨਾਂ

ਬੂਟ ਜਰਾਬਾਂ ਲਾਹ ਕੇ ਫਰਿੱਜ ਚ ਧਰ ਦਿੰਨੈਂ

ਟੈਟ ਹੋਕੇ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਪਤਾ ਨੀ ਕੀ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਨੈ

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ਪੈਗ ਲਾਕੇ ਫੇਰ ਕਲਾ ਜਾਗਦੀ

 ਪੱਗ ਬੰਨਣ ਦੀ

ਆਪਣਾ ਉੱਲੂ ਸਿੱਧਾ ਰੱਖਣਾ

ਗੱਲ ਨਾ ਮੰਨਣ ਦੀ

ਛੋਟੇ ਨੂੰ ਆਖੀ ਜਾਣਾ ਮੇਰ ਵੱਡਾ ਭਾਈ ਤੂੰ

ਉਲਾਂਭਾ ਦੇਣਾ ਕਿਸੇ ਕੁੜੀ ਨਾਲ ਗੱਲ ਕਰਾਈ ਤੂੰ

ਗੁੱਸੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਆ ਕਈ ਵਾਰੀ ਲੱਫੜ ਵੀ ਜੜ ਦਿੰਨੈਂ

ਟੈਟ ਹੋਕੇ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਪਤਾ ਨੀ ਕੀ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਨੈ

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 ਕਲਾਕਾਰ ਅੰਦਰਲਾ ਜਾਗੇ

ਲਲਕ ਫਿਰ ਊੱਠੇ ਗਾਉਣ ਦੀ

ਰਾਗ ਭੜਾਸ ਅੱਧੀ ਰਾਤੀਂ

ਗਵਾਂਢੀ ਜਗਾਉਣ ਦੀ

ਇੱਕ ਵਾਰੀ ਤਾਂ ਗਲੀ ਚੋਂ ਕੁੱਤਾ ਬੰਨ ਲਿਆਇਆ ਮੈਂ

ਡੇਢ ਘੰਟਾ ਕੋਲ ਬਿਠਾ ਕੇ ਮਿਰਜ਼ਾ ਸੁਣਾਇਆ ਮੈਂ

ਜਾਂ ਅੜੇ ਗਰਾਰੀ ਲਿਖਣੇ ਦੀ

ਲਿਖ ਲਿਖ ਡੈਰੀ ਭਰ ਦਿੰਨੈਂ

ਟੈਟ ਹੋਕੇ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਪਤਾ ਨੀ ਕੀ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਨੈ

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ਬੈਲੈੰਸ ਤੜਕੇ ਦੇਖ ਮੁੱਕਿਆ

ਫੇਰ ਪਛਤਾਉਣਾ ਮੈਂ

ਨਾਲ ਦੀ ਜੰਤਾ ਨੂੰ

ਬੜੇ ਫੋਨ ਘਮਾਉਣਾ ਮੈਂ

ਕੇਰਾਂ ਖਾਧੀ ਪੀਤੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਢੋਲ ਲਿਆਇਆ ਮੈਂ

ਸਾਢੇ ਸੱਤ ਆਲੀਆਂ ਖਬਰਾਂ ਤੇ ਬੜਾ ਵਜਾਇਆ ਮੈਂ

ਨਾਲੇ ਪਾਈਆਂ ਲੁੱਡੀਆਂ ਛੇੜੇ ਰਾਗ ਗਰਾਟ ਜੀ

ਮੈਂ ਨੀ ਹੰਭਿਆ ਹਾਰ ਕੇ ਵਿਚਾਰਾ ਢੋਲ ਗਿਆ ਪਾਟ ਜੀ

ਹੱਥ ਦੇਖਣ ਆਏ ਡਾਂਗ ਬਾਬੇ ਦੇ

 ਮੌਰਾਂ ਵਿੱਚ ਧਰ ਦਿੰਨੈਂ

ਟੈਟ ਹੋਕੇ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਪਤਾ ਨੀ ਕੀ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਨੈ

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ਚਾਰ ਪੰਜ ਕੇਰਾਂ ਪੈਗ ਸ਼ੈਗ ਲਾ

 ਮੋਟਰ ਤੋਂ ਉੱਠੇ ਸੀ

ਪਿੰਡ ਆਕੇ ਸਾਰੇ ਪਿੰਡ ਦੇ ਕੁੱਤੇ ਕੁੱਟੇ ਸੀ

ਬੌਹੜੀ ਲੋਕੋ ਪਿੰਡ ਆਲੇ ਕਹਿੰਦੇ ਆਗੇ ਕਮਲੇ ਜੇ

ਕੱਢਣ ਲੱਗਿਆਂ ਟਰਾਲੀ ਠੋਕੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਥਮਲੇ ਦੇ
  :D: :D: :D: :D: :D:
 ਚੋਰ ਚੋਰ ਕੇਰਾਂ ਪਾਤਾ ਰੌਲਾ ਠੀਕਰੀ ਪਹਿਰੇ ਚ

ਨਾਲੇ ਨੱਚੀ ਜਾਂਵਾਂ ਪਿੰਡ ਵਿਚਾਲੇ ਕੱਲੇ ਕਛੈਹਰੇ ਚ

ਲੋਰ ਚ ਇੱਕ ਦੂਜੇ ਨੂੰ ਕਹਿਣਾ ਰਹੋ ਚੌਕੰਨੇ ਓਏ

ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਰੋੜੇ ਮੋੜਾਂ ਦੇ ਬੜੇ ਬੱਲਭ ਭੰਨੇ ਓਏ

ਮਾੜਾ ਟੈਮ ਸੀ ਕੇਰਾਂ ਖੇਤ ਮੈਂ ਤੇ ਜੀਤਾ ਸੀ

ਇੱਕ ਅੰਬ ਦੀ ਫਾੜੀ ਨਾਲ ਅਧੀਆ ਖਾਲੀ ਕੀਤਾ ਸੀ

ਕਦੇ ਤੁਤਲਾ ਬੋਲਣ ਲੱਗਜੇ ਕਰੇ ਕੁਰਲੀਆਂ ਜੀ

 ਨੈਣਵਾਲੀਏ ਨੂੰ ਪੈਗ ਲਵਾਕੇ ਸੁਣੋ ਸ਼ੁਰਲੀਆਂ ਜੀ

ਮਾਰ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਯੱਕੜ ਕਰ ਦਿਮਾਗ ਮੈਂ ਤਰ ਦਿੰਨੈਂ

ਟੈਟ ਹੋਕੇ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਪਤਾ ਨੀ ਕੀ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਨੈ

ਟੈਟ ਹੋਕੇ ਤਾਂ ਮੈਂ ਪਤਾ ਨੀ ਕੀ ਕੀ ਕਰ ਦਿੰਨੈ -      ਨੈਣੈਵਾਲੀਆ